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We had two Tom Johnsons in early times, farmer Tom and tinner Tom--it is the farmer of whom I now write. He came with his father in the year 1820, and settled on the quarter-section of land adjoining to and east of Camp Morton, or the State Fair grounds, and there remained until his death, which occurred but a few years ago.
Tom was one of the leading
beaux and gallants of the young ladies. He dressed very
exquisitely, especially when arrayed for church, a
dance, or a quilting party. He wore his hair curled in
front and hanging down on the sides of is face. In
summer he wore white linen pantaloons with a black
ribbon drawstring at the bottom, tied with a bow know.
He imagined himself very handsome as well as very
smart, and was the first to call on the young ladies
when they arrived, and never failed to let them know
that he was the favorite with all that had already been
here for sometime.
He called to see a family of
several young ladies that had arrived, and tried to make
himself very agreeable in the way of asking questions as
well as informing them who were the "purtiest and
smartest gals in the settlement." Among other questions
he asked them to let him see their "purranner, as he had
hern they had one, and that he had never seed one of the
critters in his whole life." Being informed that it was
a mistake, and that they did not bring one, he was very
much disappointed. He said he would like to see a
purranner," that "thar was a show come to the
settlement, in yonder on Whitewater, that had an orging
and made nice music."
Mr. Johnson finally found a
young lady, in the person of Miss Rody Parr, that suited
him and he married her. He was for many years one of
our most prosperous farmers, and lived to see
"purranners" manufactured in our city and his farm worth
five hundred dollars per acre. He was a younger brother
of Jerry Johnson, and although they were "Tom and
Jerry," they took their liquor plain.
Nowland, John H. B., “Early Reminiscences
of Indianapolis, with Short Biographical Sketches of Its
Early Citizens, and of a Few of the Prominent Business
Men of the Present Day,” 1870, pp. 146-147.
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